Polymeric phosphonium sales providing enhanced chemiluminescence from 1, 2-dioxetanes

ABSTRACT

Polymeric phosphonium salts useful for enhancing the chemiluminescence produced by 1,2-dioxetanes are described. The polymers are preferably water soluble and used in immunoassays and nucleic acid assays with enzyme triggerable 1,2-dioxetanes.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/855,537, filed on Mar.20, 1992, now allowed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) State of the Invention

The present invention describes a class of enhancer polymers used withlight producing 1,2-dioxetanes to produce enhanced chemiluminescence.Enhancers are substances which increase the amount of chemiluminescenceemitted by the 1,2-dioxetane. The enhancer polymer can act to increasethe fluorescence quantum yield of the 1,2-dioxetane and can include afluorescent energy acceptor compound which is excited by an excitedspecies produced in the decomposition of the 1,2-dioxetane and thenemits light. The enhancer can act to increase the percentage of1,2-dioxetane molecules which produce an electronically excited stateproduct and thus more light. For the purposes of this invention,enhanced chemiluminescence means that the total light emitted, themaximum light intensity and/or the ratio of light intensity of thereaction compared to the background is greater than that observed in theabsence of the enhancer. A preferred 1,2-dioxetane reaction is asfollows: ##STR1## wherein R₁, R₃ and R₄ are various organic groups andR₂ is an aryl group substituted with OX(X-oxy) group.

(2) Prior Art

1. Enhancers of Chemiluminescent Reactions not Involving Dioxetanes.Various substances are known including 4-substituted phenols,6-hydroxybenzothiazole and its derivatives and several aromatic amineswhich enhance the chemiluminescent output from the oxidation of luminolby a peroxide in the presence of a peroxidase enzyme (European PatentNo. 0087959; U.K. Patent Application GB 2162946A: T. P. Whitehead et al,Nature 158 (1983)). The nature of the enhancement is not well understoodbut is thought to be due to the enhancer substance acting as a redoxmediator in the enzymatic reaction (L. J. Kricka, G. H. G. Thorpe and R.A. W. Stott, Pure and Appl. Chem., 59(5), p. 651 (1987); G. H. G. Thorpeand L. J. Kricka, Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence NewPerspectives, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, p. 199 (1987)). Enhancementis in any case, not thought to be due to an increase in the fluorescencequantum yield of the excited aminophthalate product nor due to energytransfer to a fluorescer nor to an increase in the yield of chemicallyproduced excited states.

2. Enhancement by Surfactants of Chemiluminescence not involvingDioxetanes. Enhancement by surfactants of the chemiluminescent oxidationof luminol (K. D. Gundermann, Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence,Academic Press, New York, p. 17 (1981); D. I. Metelitza, A. N. Eryominand V. A. Shibaev, J. Biolumin. and Chemilumin., 7, 21 (1982)) has beenreported. Chemiluminescence from the chemical oxidation of luciferin wasfound to increase in the presence of various surfactants due to anincrease in the fluorescence quantum yield of the excited state product(T. Goto and H. Fukatsu, Tetrahedron Lett., 4299 (1969)). On the otherhand, enzymatic oxidation of luciferin was found to increase in thepresence of nonionic surfactants due to an increase in the turnover rateof the enzyme (L. J. Kricka and M. DeLuca, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 217,674 (1982)). Enhancement of the chemiluminescent oxidation of acridiniumesters by a cationic surfactant was reported to be due to suppression ofa competing non-chemiluminescent side reaction (F. McCapra, Acc. Chem.Res., 9, 201 (1976)). U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,769 to Chang discloses variousenhancers.

3. Chemical Triggering of Dioxetanes. The first example in theliterature is described in relation to the hydroxy-substituted dioxetanederived from the 2,3-diaryl-1,4-dioxene (A. P. Schaap and S. Gagnon, J.Amer. Chem. Soc., 104, 3504 (1982)). However, the hydroxy-substituteddioxetane and any other examples of the dioxetanes derived from thediaryl-1,4-dioxenes are relatively unstable having half-lives at 25° C.of only a few hours. Further, these non-stabilized dioxetanes aredestroyed by small quantities of amines (T. Wilson, Int. Rev. Sci.:Chem., Ser. Two, 9, 265 (1976)) and metal ions (T. Wilson, M. E. Landis,A. L. Baumstark, and P. D. Bartlett, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 95, 4765(1973); P. D. Barlett, A. L. Baumstark, and M. E. Landis, J. Amer. Chem.Soc., 96, 5557 (1974)), both components used in the aqueous buffers forbiological assays.

Examples of the chemical triggering of stabilized dioxetanes were firstreported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,652, to Schaap and a paper (A. P.Schaap, T. S. Chen, R. S. Handley, R. DeSilva, and B. P. Giri,Tetrahedron Lett., 1155 (1987)). These dioxetanes exhibit thermalhalf-lives of years but can be triggered to produce efficientchemiluminescence on demand.

4. Enzymatic Triggering of Dioxetanes. The first examples of enzymatictriggering of dioxetanes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,652, toSchaap and a series of papers (A. P. Schaap, R. S. Handley, and B. P.Giri, Tetrahedron Lett., 935 (1987); A. P. Schaap, M. D. Sandison, andR. S. Handley, Tetrahedron Lett., 1159 (1987) and A. P. Schaap,Photochem. Photobiol., 47S, 50S (1988)). The highly stableadamantyl-substituted dioxetanes bearing a protected hydroxyarylsubstituent are triggered to decompose with emission of light by theaction of an enzyme which removes the protecting group. The hydroxyarylgroup is subsequently converted at pH>9 to a strongly electron-donatingaryloxide anion which dramatically increases the rate of decomposition.As a result, chemiluminescence is emitted at intensities several ordersof magnitude above that resulting from slow thermal decomposition.Bronstein PCT 88 00695 also describes enzyme triggerable dioxetanes asdoes Bronstein U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,614, 4,952,707, 5,032,381, and4,931,223. It is anticipated that chemiluminescence from the triggerabledioxetanes described in these references can also be enhanced by thepolymers of the present invention.

5. Fluorescent Enhancers Covalently Attached to Dioxetanes. Stable,triggerable dioxetanes with appended fluorescent groups are reported inU.S. Pat. No. 5,013,827 to Schaap. These compounds differ from thepresent invention in that enhancement of chemiluminescence occursthrough a radiationless intramolecular energy transfer from theinitially excited meta-oxybenzoate chromophore to a more highlyfluorescent fluorophore.

6. Enhanced Chemiluminescence From Dioxetanes in the Presence ofSurfactants. A chemiluminescent reaction believed to involve anon-isolable dioxetane was enhanced in micellar solution (S. Shinkai, Y.Ishikawa, O. Manabe and T. Kunitake, Chem. Lett., 1523 (1981)). Themechanism of enhancement remains unproven but the authors suggested thatthe yield of excited state products may be increased in the hydrophobicmicellar environment as compared to water.

Schaap et al first reported the enhancement of chemiluminescence fromthe enzyme-triggered decomposition of a stable 1,2-dioxetane in thepresence of water-soluble substances including an ammonium surfactantand a fluorescer. Fluorescent micelles consisting ofcetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and5-(N-tetradecanoyl)aminofluorescein capture the intermediatehydroxy-substituted dioxetane and lead to a 400-fold increase in thechemiluminescence quantum yield. Enhancement occurs by virtue of anefficient intermolecular energy transfer process from the anionic formof the excited state ester to the fluorescein compound which is held inclose proximity and the hydrophobic environment of the surfactant (A. P.Schaap, H. Akhavan and L. J. Romano, Clin. Chem., 35(9), 1863 (1989)).##STR2##

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,182 and 5,004,565, to Schaap describe additionalexamples of enhancement of chemiluminescence from chemical and enzymatictriggering of stable dioxetanes in the presence of the ammoniumsurfactant and fluorescers.

Fluorescent micelles formed from CTAB and either the fluoresceinsurfactant described above or 1-hexadecyl-6-hydroxybenzothiaxamideenhance the chemiluminescence from the base-triggered decomposition ofhydroxy- and acetoxy-substituted dioxetanes. It was also reported thatCTAB itself can enhance the chemiluminescence of dioxetane 1 (U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,959,182 and 5,004,565, to Schaap). The phosphate-protecteddioxetane 1 (Lumigen® PPD) has proven commercially useful for thesensitive detection of alkaline phosphatase. Chemiluminescent detectionusing Lumi-Phos® 530, a ready-to-use liquid formulation containing, hasbeen employed in Southern blotting (D. Pollard-Knight, A. C. Simmonds,A. P. Schaap, H. Akhavan, and M. A. W. Brady, Anal. Biochem., 185, 353(1990)), a microtiter plate based DNA probe sandwich assay (J. M. Clyne,J. A. Running, R. Sanchez-Pescador, D. Besemer, M. Stempien, A. P.Schaap, R. S. Stephens, and M. S. Urdea, J. Biolumin. Chemilumin. 2, 193(1988)) and Western blotting (R. Oberfelder, Focus, 13, 50 (1991); G. S.Sandhu, B. W. Eckloff, B.C. Kline, BioTechngues 11, 14 (1991)).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,614, to Bronstein and U.K. Patent Application No.89/14749.0 (GB 2,233,451A) disclose enhancement of dioxetanechemiluminescence by polymeric quaternary ammonium compounds alone oradmixed with fluorescein. Other substances reported to enhancechemiluminescence include globular proteins such as bovine albumin,quaternary ammonium surfactants, nitrogen-containing polymers andpolyethers. No phosphonium polymers are disclosed.

7. Polymeric Phosphonium Salts. Polyvinylbenzyltrimethylphosphoniumsalts, Polyvinylbenzyltriethylphosphonium salts andpolyvinylbenzyltributylphosphonium salts have not been reported.Polyvinylbenzyltrihexylphosphonium salts are disclosed in a patentprepared as a copolymer with divinylbenzene (PCT Int. Appl. WO 8906380A1 13 Jul. 1989). PolYvinylbenzyldiethylphenylphosphonium salts aredisclosed in a patent prepared as a copolymer with styrene (Jpn. KokaiTokkyo Koho, JP 63243964 A2 11 Oct. 1988).Polyvinylbenzyltrioctylphosphonium salts are disclosed in a series ofpatents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,095, A 6 July 1982 and EPA 28,123 Eur. Pat.Appl. EP 8233 20 Feb. 1980, Eur. Pat. Appl. EP 28123 6 May 1981) asbeing useful for the fluorescent detection of bilirubin.Polyvinylbenzyltriphenylphosphonium salts are well known in theliterature, being used as surfactants, phase-transfer catalysts andreagents in organic synthesis. Copolymers ofPolyvinylbenzyltriphenylphosphonium salts with acrylic acid, butadieneand divinylbenzene are known. None of the foregoing polymers orcopolymers have been used as enhancers of chemiluminescence of1,2-dioxetanes. No reports of covalently linked fluorescers to thesepolymeric phosphonium salts have been made. Nopolyvinylbenzyltrialkylphosphonium salts with mixed pendant groups havebeen reported.

OBJECTS

It is an object of the present invention to provide polymericphosphonium salts, particularly water-soluble polyvinyl phosphonium saltpolymers. It is also an object of the present invention to providepolymeric phosphonium salts to which fluorescent groups are attachedthrough chemical bonds or associated by ionic or hydrophobicinteractions. It is an object of the present invention to provide amethod and compositions containing a stable 1,2-dioxetane which can betriggered by chemical reagents, including enzymes, in the presence of apolymeric phosphonium salt to generate enhanced chemiluminescence.Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a methodand compositions for additionally enhancing the chemiluminescencethrough energy transfer to a fluorescent compound or group which may bechemically bound to the polymer or associated with the polymer throughionic or hydrophobic interactions. Further the present invention relatesto a method and compositions for the detection of enzymes, and for usein immunoassays and the detection of enzyme-linked nucleic acids,antibodies and antigens such as are generally known in the art. Theseand other objects will become increasingly apparent by reference to thefollowing description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing a comparison of chemiluminescence spectra foran enzyme triggered 1,2-dioxetane with an enhancer of the presentinvention and in the commercial reagent LUMI-PHOS® 480. The graph showsalkaline phosphatase-triggered decomposition of dioxetane 1 (0.33 mM) in(a) Lumi-Phos® 480 and (b) 0.2M 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol buffer, pH9.6 containing 0.5 mg/mL TB. The wavelength of maximum emission ofspectrum b is 470 nm. Lumi-Phos® 480 contains 0.75M2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol buffer at pH 9.6 and 1.1 mM CTAB.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a comparison of the fluorescence spectra ofmethyl 3-hydroxybenzoate in alkaline solution in the presence ofenhancers of the present invention and in the commercial reagentLUMI-PHOS® 480. The graph shows methyl 3-hydroxybenzoate in (a) 0.75M2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol buffer, pH 9.6 containing 1.1 mM CTAB (asfound in Lumi-Phos® 480), (b) 0.2M 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol buffer,pH 9.6 containing 0.5 mg/mL TB and (c) 0.2M 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanolbuffer, pH 9.6 containing 0.5 mg/mL 18 TB/TO. The fluorescence of methyl3-hydroxybenzoate in 221 buffer containing CTAB was not affected byvarying the concentration of buffer from 0.75M to 0.2M.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the light intensity as a function of enhancerconcentration with an alkaline phosphatase triggered 1,2-dioxetane. Thegraph shows intensity from 100 μL of a 0.33 mM solution of Lumigen® PPDin 0.2M 221 buffer, pH 9.6 containing 0.88 mM MgCl₂ and variousconcentrations of 3 TB/TO in the range of 1.0 to 0.01 mg/mL. Thechemiluminescent reaction was initiated by addition of 5.5×10⁻¹⁸ mol ofcalf intestinal alkaline phosphatase at 37° C. Values shown are theaverage of triplicate results.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing light intensity compared to background versusamount of enhancer with an alkaline phosphatase triggered 1,2-dioxetane.The graph shows the ratio of chemiluminescence intensity (S) to reagentbackground (B) as a function of the optimum concentration of 3 TB/TO inthe chemiluminescent decomposition of Lumigen® PPD by alkalinephosphatase at 37° C. in 0.2M 221 buffer, pH 9.6 containing 0.88 mMMgCl₂. Values shown are the average of triplicate results. The optimumsignal/background was obtained at an enhancer concentration of 0.5Mg/mL.

FIG. 5 is a log-log graph showing light intensity versus enzymeconcentration showing that 0.005 amole of alkaline phosphatase can bedetected. The graph shows dependence of maximum chemiluminescenceintensity on amount of alkaline phosphatase in the chemiluminescentdecomposition of Lumigen® PPD at 37° C. in 0.2M 221 buffer, pH 9.6 with0.88 mM MgCl₂ and 0.5 mg/mL 3 TB/TO. The light intensity is linearlyrelated to the amounts of enzyme between 5×10⁻¹⁷ mol and 5×10⁻²¹ mol.The limit of detection (0.005 amol of alkaline phosphatase) is 2000-foldlower than the limit of detection of alkaline phosphatase without usingenhancer. The time to obtain maximum chemiluminescence intensity isindependent of amount of enzyme over this range.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are graphs of light intensity versus time showing theeffect of various enhancers and no enhancer at 5 attamoles of alkalinephosphatase. The graph of FIG. 6 shows a comparison of thesignal/background ratio in the chemiluminescent assay of alkalinephosphatase. Chemiluminescence intensities from 100 μL of solutionscontaining various enhancers and Lumigen® PPD in 0.2M 221 buffer, pH 9.6triggered at 37° C. by addition of 5.5×10⁻¹⁸ mol of calf intestinalalkaline phosphatase. Also included for comparison are: a solution witha polymeric ammonium salt (BDMQ), a solution without enhancer and thecommercial reagent Lumi-Phos® 530. The graph of FIG. 7 shows acomparison of the chemiluminescence intensities from 100 μL of solutionscontaining enhancers of the present invention and dioxetane 1 in2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol (221) buffer, pH 9.6 triggered at 37° C. byaddition of 5.5×10⁻¹⁸ mol of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Alsoincluded for comparison are: a solution with a polymeric ammonium salt(BDMQ), a solution without enhancer and the commercial reagentLumi-Phos® 530.

FIGS. 8C and 8D show the result of a Western blot analysis of humantransferrin with chemiluminescent detection using an alkalinephosphatase-triggered 1,2-dioxetane in the presence of enhancer. Shownis Western blotted human transferrin utilizing Reagent C (FIG. 8C) andReagent D (FIG. 8D). Human transferrin loaded into each slot was (1)1000 pg, (2) 200 pg, (3) 50 pg, (4) 20 pg and (5) 5 pg. The blots wereexposed to Kodak X-OMAT AR film for 30 seconds after a 30 minuteincubation in their respective detection reagent. Only faint bands forslots 1 and 2 were visible using detection reagents A and B.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a method for providing enhancedchemiluminescence from a stable 1,2-dioxetane in the presence of apolymeric phosphonium salt which comprises: providing in a solution oron a surface where the light is to be produced a stable 1,2-dioxetaneand a polymeric phosphonium salt; and triggering the 1,2-dioxetane withan activating agent to provide the enhanced chemiluminescence. Themethod particularly relates to a probe or enzyme linked assay.

Further, the present invention relates to a composition which comprises:a stable 1,2-dioxetane; and a polymeric phosphonium salt whereinenhanced chemiluminescence is produced in a solution or on a surface inthe presence of a sufficient quantity of the polymeric phosphonium saltcompared to the chemiluminescence obtained in the absence of thepolymeric phosphonium salt.

The present invention relates to a polyvinylLinktriAylphosphonium groupcontaining polymer prepared by reacting triAyl phosphine with apolyvinyl polymer wherein Link is a linking group between the polymerand the phosphonium cation containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and A isselected from the group consisting of alkyl containing 1 to 20 carbonatoms or alkyl and aralkyl groups each containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

The present invention relates to a polyvinylLinktriAylphosphonium andfluorescent group containing polymer wherein Link is a linking groupbetween the polymer and the phosphonium cation containing 1 to 20 carbonatoms and A is selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing 1to 20 carbon atoms or alkyl and aralkyl groups each containing 1 to 20carbon atoms and wherein the fluorescent group is attached to thepolymer.

The present invention further relates to a process for producing apolyvinyl phosphonium salt substituted polymer which comprises: reactingin a reaction mixture a polyvinylLink halide polymer with an triAylphosphine in an organic solvent for the polyvinyl halide wherein A isselected from the group consisting of alkyl containing 1 to 20 carbonatoms or alkyl and aralkyl groups containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms; andseparating the polymer from the reaction mixture. The reactiontemperature is between about 0° and 100° C.

The present invention particularly relates to compositions containing apolymeric phosphonium salt and a stable 1,2-dioxetane which can betriggered by chemical reagents, including enzymes, to generatechemiluminescence. Stable dioxetanes useful in practicing the presentinvention may be of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R₃ and R₄ are organicgroups which may be combined together and wherein R₁ is an organic groupwhich may be combined with R₂, and wherein R₂ represents an aryl groupsubstituted with an X-oxy group which forms an unstable oxideintermediate dioxetane compound when triggered to remove a chemicallylabile group X by an activating agent selected from acids, bases, salts,enzymes, inorganic and organic catalysts and electron donors. The OXgroup may be selected from hydroxyl, trialkyl or aryl silyloxy,inorganic oxyacid salt, phosphate salt, sulfate salt, oxygen pyranoside,aryl and alkyl carboxyl ester. The unstable oxide intermediate dioxetanedecomposes and releases electronic energy to form light and two carbonylcontaining compounds of the formula ##STR4##

A preferred method of practicing the present invention uses a stabledioxetane of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R₁ is selected from loweralkyl or alkaryl containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and may additionallycontain heteroatoms, R₃ C is selected from spirofused cyclic andpolycyclic organic groups containing 6 to 30 carbon atoms and mayadditionally contain heteroatoms and wherein R₂ is selected from aryl,biaryl, heteroaryl, fused ring polycyclic aryl or heteroaryl groupswhich can be substituted or unsubstituted and wherein OX is an X-oxygroup which forms an unstable oxide intermediate dioxetane compound whentriggered to remove a chemically labile group X by an activating agentselected from acids, bases, salts, enzymes, inorganic and organiccatalysts and electron donors.

The present invention relates to compositions containing a stable1,2-dioxetane which can be triggered by an activating agent to generatechemiluminescence in the presence of a polyvinyl phosphonium saltenhancer. Enhancers particularly useful in practicing the presentinvention are of the formula: ##STR6## wherein A is selected from loweralkyl containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl or aralkyl groups, wherein mis an integer between 1 and 14, and wherein n and p are integers betweenabout 10 and 1000. The A groups on a specific phosphorus atom may all bethe same group or may be two different groups or all three may bedifferent. The set of A groups on adjacent-phosphorus atoms may be thesame set or may be different sets wherein the sets are subject to thedescription above. The relative position of substituents on the aromaticring may be ortho, meta, para or mixtures of the three types in anyproportion.

The present invention particularly relates to compositions containing astable 1,2-dioxetane which can be triggered by an activating agent togenerate chemiluminescence in the presence of a polyvinyl phosphoniumsalts with fluorescent groups attached according to the formula:##STR7## wherein A is selected from lower alkyl containing 1 to 20carbon atoms, aryl or aralkyl groups, wherein m is an integer between 1and 14, and wherein n and p are integers between about 10 and 1000. TheA groups on a specific phosphorus atom may all be the same group or maybe two different groups or all three may be different. The set of Rgroups on adjacent phosphorus atoms may be the same set or may bedifferent sets wherein the sets are subject to the description above.The relative position of substituents on the aromatic ring may be ortho,meta, para or mixtures of the three types in any proportion. Theattached fluorescent group may be any fluorescer which can be chemicallylinked to a polymer and which has a lower energy for its singletelectronic excited state compared to the excited state of the dioxetaneproduct. The fluorescent group enhances the chemiluminescence efficiencyof the dioxetane by acting as an energy acceptor which becomes excitedand releases the excitation energy in the form of light. Examples offluorescers useful in practicing the present invention include but isnot limited to any fluorescent dye; aromatic compounds includingpolycyclic aromatic compounds, biphenyls, terphenyls, stilbenes,heteroaromatic and polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds such asacridines, coumarins, phthalocyanines, furans, oxazoles, oxadiazoles,benzothiazoles, quinolines, xanthenes, fluorescein and fluoresceinderivatives, e.g. amidofluorescein, eosin and eosin derivatives,rhodamines and resorufins.

The present invention relates to polyvinyl phosphonium salts of theformula: ##STR8## wherein A is selected from the lower alkyl containing1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl or aralkyl groups, wherein m is an integerbetween 1 and 14, and wherein n and p are integers between about 10 and1000. The A groups on a specific phosphorus atom may all be the samegroup or may be two different groups or all three may be different. Theset of A groups on adjacent phosphorus atoms may be the same set or maybe different sets wherein the sets are subject to the description above.The relative position of substituents on the aromatic ring may be ortho,meta, para or mixtures of the three types in any proportion.

The present invention also relates to polyvinyl phosphonium saltpolymers with fluorescent groups attached according to the formula:##STR9## wherein A is selected from lower alkyl containing 1 to 20carbon atoms, aryl, aralkyl or alkyaryl groups, wherein m is an integerbetween 1 and 14, and wherein n and p are integers between about 10 and1000. The A groups on a specific phosphorus atom may all be the samegroup or may be two different groups or all three may be different. Theset of A groups on adjacent phosphorus atoms may be the same set or maybe different sets wherein the sets are subject to the description above.The relative position of substituents on the aromatic ring may be ortho,meta, para or mixtures of the three types in any proportion. Theattached fluorescent group may be any fluorescer which can be chemicallylinked to a polymer and which has a lower energy for its singletelectronic excited state compared to the excited state of the dioxetaneproduct. The fluorescent group enhances the chemiluminescence efficiencyof the dioxetane by acting as an energy acceptor which becomes excitedand releases the excitation energy in the form of light. Examples offluorescers useful in practicing the present invention include but isnot limited to any fluorescent dye; aromatic compounds includingpolycyclic aromatic compounds, biphenyls, terphenyls, stilbenes,heteroaromatic and polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds such asacridines, coumarins, phthalocyanines, furans, oxazoles, oxadiazoles,benzothiazoles, quinolines, xanthenes, fluorescein and fluoresceinderivatives, e.g. amidofluorescein, eosin and eosin derivatives,rhodamines and resorufins. An especially useful enhancer utilizesfluorescein as the covalently attached fluorescer. The amount offluorescer groups attached to the polymer may range from about 0.001% toabout 10% (W/W) and preferably from about 0.01% to about 1%.

The present invention also relates to compositions in which the amountof chemiluminescence emitted by the dioxetane in the presence of thepolymeric phosphonium salt enhancer is greater than the amount of lightemitted in the absence of the enhancer substance. The degree ofenhancement is dependent upon the nature of the A groups substitutingthe phosphorus atoms. The degree of enhancement is also dependent on theconcentration of enhancer used. Amplification of the chemiluminescenceintensity occurs with enhancer concentrations ranging between about0.001% and about 10%. Enhancers are preferably used at concentrationsbetween about 0.01% and about 0.1% by weight.

The present invention relates to an improved method for generating lightwhich comprises providing a polyvinyl phosphonium salt enhancer in thepresence of a stable 1,2-dioxetane of the formula: ##STR10## wherein R₃and R₄ are organic groups which may be combined together, wherein R₁ isan organic group which may be combined with R₂ and wherein R₂ representsan aryl group substituted with an X-oxy group which forms an unstableoxide intermediate dioxetane compound when triggered to remove achemically labile group X by an activating agent selected from acids,bases, salts, enzymes, inorganic and organic catalysts and electrondonors. The OX group may be selected from hydroxyl, trialkyl or arylsilyloxy, inorganic oxyacid salt, phosphate salt, sulfate salt, oxygenpyranoside, aryl and alkyl carboxyl ester. The unstable oxideintermediate dioxetane decomposes and releases electronic energy to formlight and two carbonyl containing compounds of the formula: ##STR11##which can be triggered by an activating agent to generatechemiluminescence in the presence of a polymeric phosphonium salt.

The present invention relates to an improved method for generating lightwhich comprises providing a stable 1,2-dioxetane which can be triggeredby an activating agent to generate chemiluminescence in the presence ofa polyvinyl phosphonium salt enhancer. Enhancers useful in practicingthe present invention may be of the formula: ##STR12## wherein A isselected from lower alkyl containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl oraralkyl groups, wherein m is an integer between 1 and 14, and wherein nand p are integers between about 10 and 1000. The A groups on a specificphosphorus atom may all be the same group or may be two different groupsor all three may be different. The set of A groups on adjacentphosphorus atoms may be the same set or may be different sets whereinthe sets are subject to the description above.

The present invention relates to an improved method for generating lightwhich comprises providing a stable 1,2-dioxetane which can be triggeredby an activating agent to generate chemiluminescence in the presence ofa polyvinyl phosphonium salt with fluorescent groups (F1) attachedaccording to the formula: ##STR13## wherein A is selected from loweralkyl containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl or aralkyl groups, wherein mis an integer between 1 and 14, and wherein n and p are integers betweenabout 10 and 1000. The A groups on a specific phosphorus atom may all bethe same group or may be two different groups or all three may bedifferent. The set of A groups on adjacent phosphorus atoms may be thesame set or may be different sets wherein the sets are subject to thedescription above. The relative position of substituents on the aromaticring may be ortho, meta, para or mixtures of the three types in anyproportion. The attached fluorescent group may be any fluorescer whichcan be chemically linked to a polymer and which has a lower energy forits singlet electronic excited state compared to the excited state ofthe dioxetane product. The fluorescent group enhances thechemiluminescence efficiency of the dioxetane by acting as an energyacceptor which becomes excited and releases the excitation energy in theform of light. Examples of fluorescers useful in practicing the presentinvention include but is not limited to any fluorescent dye; aromaticcompounds including polycyclic aromatic compounds, biphenyls,terphenyls, stilbenes, heteroaromatic and polycyclic heteroaromaticcompounds such as acridines, coumarins, phthalocyanines, furans,oxazoles, oxadiazoles, benzothiazoles, quinolines, xanthenes,fluorescein and fluorescein derivatives, e.g. amidofluorescein, eosinand eosin derivatives, rhodamines and resorufins.

Further, the present invention relates to a method for additionallyenhancing the chemiluminescence through energy transfer to a fluorescentcompound which may be chemically bound to the phosphonium salt orassociated with the salt through ionic or hydrophobic interactions.Examples of fluorescers useful in practicing the present inventioninclude but is not limited to any fluorescent dye; aromatic compoundsincluding polycyclic aromatic compounds, biphenyls, terphenyls,stilbenes, heteroaromatic and polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds suchas acridines, coumarins, phthalocyanines, furans, oxazoles, oxadiazoles,benzothiazoles, quinolines, xanthenes, fluorescein and fluoresceinderivatives, e.g. amidofluorescein, eosin and eosin derivatives,rhodamines and resorufins.

Further, the present invention relates to an improved method fordetecting chemiluminescence from a stable 1,2-dioxetane triggered by anactivating agent selected from acids, bases, salts, enzymes, inorganicand organic catalysts and electron donors in the presence of thepolyvinyl phosphonium salt enhancer. The present invention also relatesto an improved method for detecting activating agents selected fromacids, bases, salts, enzymes, inorganic and organic catalysts andelectron donors using the polyvinyl phosphonium salt enhancer.

Further the present invention relates to a method and compositions forthe detection of enzymes, in immunoassays, e.g. ELISA and the detectionof enzyme-linked nucleic acids, antibodies and antigens. Detection ofthe light emitted may be readily performed using a luminometer, X-rayfilm or with a camera and photographic film.

The anion of the polyvinyl phosphonium salt is preferably chloride.Other anions include azide, bromide, iodide, fluoride, sulfate, nitrateand carboxylate, all of which are preferably water soluble andnon-interfering. These could be produced directly or by ion exchange.

Other polyvinyl phosphonium polymers are for instance: ##STR14## andcopolymers with styrene or divinylbenzene. ##STR15##

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

1. Synthesis of Polymeric Phosphonium Salt enhancers

All of the polymers were made via the general reaction: ##STR16##

Polyvinylbenzyltrimethylphosphonium chloride (polymer TM). (M. W. ofrepeating unit=228.70 g/mol): 100 g of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride)(Monomer-Polymer Laboratories, Trevose, Pa.) was dissolved in anhydrousDMF (˜50 mL). Once the polymer had completely dissolved, 19.7 mL (0.0197mol, 3 equivalents based on repeating unit of starting polymer) of 1Mtrimethylphosphine in toluene (from Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.) was addedto the solution. The reaction vessel was then purged with nitrogen. Thereaction mixture was then allowed to stir for four days. During thistime, the polymer product precipitated. The slightly yellowish whitepolymer solids were then filtered off and washed with ˜1 L of toluene.After thorough air drying, 1.41 g (94.1% yield assuming completesubstitution) of off-white solid was obtained. Characterization of thispolymer by NMR in D₂ O showed the following: ¹ H NMR δ=7.0 and 6.6 (4H),3.6 (1.7H), and 1.7 (11.8H); ¹³ C NMR δ=130-127, 41, 31 and 7 (doublet);³¹ P NMR δ=27-25.5.

Vinylbenzyltrimethylphosphonium chloride, copolymer withvinylbenzylfluorescein (polymer TM/F). (M. W. of repeating unit=228.70g/mol); 1.00 g of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (from Monomer-PolymerLaboratories) was dissolved in anhydrous DMF (˜50 mL). Once the polymerhad completely dissolved, 10 mg of water soluble fluorescein, dyecontent ˜70% (Aldrich) and 19.7 mL (0.0197 mol, 3 equivalents based onrepeating unit of starting polymer) of 1M trimethylphosphine in toluene(Aldrich) were added to the solution. The reaction vessel was thenpurged with nitrogen. The reaction mixture was then allowed to stir forfour days. During this time, the polymer product precipitated. Thefluorescent yellow colored polymer solids were then filtered off andwashed with ˜1 L of toluene. A fluorescent yellow solid, (1.39 g, 92.8%yield assuming complete substitution) was isolated after thorough airdrying. Characterization of this polymer by NMR in D₂ O showed thefollowing: ¹ H NMR δ=7.0 and 6.6 (4H), 3.6 (1.9H), and 1.7 (10.9H); ¹³ CNMR δ=130-127, 41, 31, and 7 (doublet); ³¹ P NMR δ=27-25.5.

Polyvinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride (polymer TB). (M. W. ofrepeating unit=354.94 g/mol): 2.00 g of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride)(Monomer-Polymer Laboratories) was dissolved in anhydrous DMF (˜100 mL).Once the polymer had completely dissolved, 15 mL (0.0602 mol, 4.6equivalents based on repeating unit of starting polymer) oftributylphosphine (Aldrich) was added to the solution. (Only 3equivalents of tributylphosphine are necessary to make the TB polymer.)The reaction vessel was then purged with Argon. After stirring for fourdays, even though no precipitate had formed the reaction was stopped andworked up. The reaction mixture was poured into a large Erlenmeyer flaskand toluene was added to the stirred mixture until all of the polymerbegan to precipitate. The supernatant was decanted off and more tolueneadded; a total of ˜0.5-1 L of toluene was used. The mixture was stirredand the solid crushed manually until it formed a fine powder. The fineparticles of polymer were then filtered off and washed with ˜1 L oftoluene. Air drying of the polymer product yielded 4.41 g (94.8% yieldassuming complete substitution) of slightly yellowish white solid(subsequent batches using poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (Aldrich) as thestarting material resulted in highly white product). Characterization ofthis polymer by NMR in D₂ O showed the following: ¹ H NMR δ- 7.2 and 6.5(4H), 3.6 (1.8H), and 2.0, 1.3, and 0.8 (29.5); ¹³ C NMR δ=130-127,24-22.5, 19-17, and 13-12.5; ³¹ P NMR δ- 33.32.

Vinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride, copolymer withvinylbenzylfluorescein (polymer TB/F). (M. W. of repeating unit--354.94g/mol): 2.00 g of poly(vinylbenzylchloride)(Monomer-PolymerLaboratories) was dissolved in anhydrous DMF (˜125 mL).Once the polymer had completely dissolved, 20.1 mg of water solublefluorescein, dye content ˜70% (Aldrich), and 15 mL (0.060 mol, 3equivalents based on repeating unit of starting polymer) oftributylphosphine (Aldrich) were added to the solution. The reactionvessel was then purged with argon. After stirring for four days, thereaction was stopped and worked up even though none of the polymer hadprecipitated. The orange reaction mixture was then poured into a largeErlenmeyer flask and 800 mL toluene was added causing an orangeprecipitate to form. The resulting suspension was allowed to stir forone hour before the precipitate was filtered off and washed with another800 mL of toluene. After several hours of air drying, 3.88 g (83.4%yield assuming complete substitution) of fluorescent yellow solid(slightly darker yellow in appearance than TMF) was obtained.Characterization of this polymer by NMR in D₂ O showed the following: ¹H NMR δ=7.2 and 6.5 (4H), 3.6 (1.8H), and 2.0, 1.3, and 0.8 (31.7); ¹³ CNMR δ=130-127, 24-22.5, 19-17, and 13-12.5; ³¹ P NMR δ=33.5-32.

Vinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride, copolymer with vinylbenzyl-RoseBengal (polymer TB/RB). (M. W. of repeating unit--354.94 g/mol): 1.00 gof poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (Aldrich) was dissolved in ˜50 mL ofanhydrous THF. Once the polymer had completely dissolved, 50.1 mg ofRose Bengal, disodium salt (Aldrich) was added to the solution. Thereaction vessel was then purged with nitrogen. Another 50 mL ofanhydrous THF was added via syringe to dissolve most of the Rose Bengal.Tributylphosphine, 5 mL (0.020 mol, 3 equivalents based upon therepeating unit of the starting polymer) was then added via syringe. Thereaction mixture was purged with nitrogen and left to stir. Afterstirring for seven days, the reaction was stopped and worked up. The nowcolorless THF solution was then poured away from the red solid which hadprecipitated out of the THF and coated the walls of the reaction vessel.The polymer was then washed several times with THF and dried in vacuogiving a glassy red solid. At this point, the polymer showed strong redfluorescence in water (Rose Bengal is not fluorescent in water) and togive red chemiluminescence when a solution of the polymer and dioxetane1 was triggered by alkaline phosphatase in pH 9.6 buffer. The polymerwas dissolved in dichloromethane and the solvents were then removed invacuo (first on the rotovap and then under high vacuum with heating).The ¹ H NMR spectrum of the polymer indicated THF was still present, sothe sample was dried further until only a trace amount of THF was stillvisible by ¹ H NMR. A yield of 168 g (72.4% yield assuming completesubstitution) of TB/RB was obtained. The polymer was then characterizedby NMR in D₂ O showing the following: ¹ H NMR δ=7.2 and 6.5 (4H), and2.0, 1.4, and 0.8 (29.3H); ¹³ C NMR δ=130-127, 24-22.5 19-17, and13-12.5; ³¹ P NMR δ=33-32.

Polyvinylbenzyltrioctylphosphonium chloride (polymer TO). (M. W. ofrepeating unit=523.25 g/mol): 2.00 g of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride)(Monomer-Polymer Laboratories) was dissolved in ˜50 mL of anhydrous THFunder argon. Once the polymer completely dissolved, 15.9 g (0.0429 mol,3.3 equivalents based upon the repeating unit of the starting polymer)of tri-(n-octyl)-phosphine was added via syringe. The solution was thenleft stirring under argon. After six days of stirring, the reaction wasstopped and worked up. The reaction mixture was poured into a largeErlenmeyer flask and ˜1 L of toluene was added. This had no effect, soall but ˜100 mL of the solvents were removed in vacuo. ˜1 L of hexaneswere then added to the resulting solution precipitating the polymer. Thepolymer was then isolated by filtration and after air drying stillsmelled of phosphine. It was therefore redissolved in THF andprecipitated with hexanes. After thorough air drying, 378 g (55.1% yieldassuming complete substitution) of slightly yellowish white solid wasobtained. Characterization of this polymer by NMR in CDCl₃ showed thefollowing: ¹ H NMR δ=7.1 and 6.4 (4H), 4.4 (1.6H), and 2.3, 1.3 and 0.8(39.5H); ³¹ P NMR δ=32.5-31.5.

Polyvinylbenzyltrioctylphosphonium chloride, copolymer withpolyvinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride (polymer 3 TB/TO).Poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (Aldrich, 2.01 g) was dissolved in 10 mL ofanhydrous DMF. Once the polymer was completely dissolved, 1.23 g(0.00332 mol, 0.25 equivalents based upon repeating unit of the startingpolymer) of tri-n-octylphosphine was added to the solution. The reactionvessel was then flushed with argon and left stirring. After stirring fortwo days, 9.5 mL (0.038 mol, 2.9 equivalents based upon repeating unitof the starting polymer) of tributylphosphine was added to the reactionmixture via syringe. After another two days of stirring, the reactionwas stopped and worked up. The reaction mixture was poured into a largeErlenmeyer flask and ˜1 L of toluene was added Once the polymer wasmanipulated to a fine suspension of particles in the toluene, it wasfiltered off and washed with ˜500 mL of toluene. After thorough airdrying, 4.31 g (82.8% yield assuming complete substitution and completeconsumption of the trioctylphosphine) of white solid was obtained.Characterization of this polymer by NMR in D₂ O showed the following: ¹H NMR δ=7.2 and 6.5 (4H), 3.6 (1.5H), and 2.0, 1.4 and 0.8 (43.1 H); ¹³C NMR δ=130-127, 24-22.5, 19-17, and 13-12.5. Other mixed TO and TBpolymers were synthesized using similar methods.

2.Measurement of Chemiluminescence Kinetics and Quantum Yields

Chemiluminescence intensities and rate measurements were performed usingeither a Turner Designs (Sunnyvale, Calif.) model TD-20e luminometer ora Labsystems Luminoskan luminometer (Helsinki, Finland). Temperaturecontrol of samples analyzed in the Turner luminometer was achieved bymeans of a circulating water bath connected to the instrument.Quantitative measurement of light intensities on the Turner luminometerwas extended beyond the 10⁴ linear range of the detector by a neutraldensity filter. Data collection was controlled by an Apple MacintoshSE/30 computer using the LumiSoft™ data reduction program (Lumigen, Inc.Detroit, Mich.).

3. Chemiluminescence and Fluorescence Spectra

Chemiluminescence and fluorescence spectra were measured using aFluorolog II fluorimeter (Spex Ind., Edison, N.J.) with 1 cm quartzcuvettes. All measurements were performed at ambient temperature. Asolution of 2 mL of Lumigen® PPD in 221 buffer (0.2M, pH 9.6) containing0.88 mM MgCl₂ and 0.1% enhancer TB was placed in a cuvette andchemiluminescence initiated by injection of 5 μL of a solution ofalkaline phosphatase (Biozyme Laboratories, San Diego, Calif.). Thespectrum was scanned when the light intensity reached a constant level.FIG. 1 shows a comparison of the chemiluminescence spectra obtainedunder these conditions with that obtained from Lumi-Phos® 480, acommercial formulation of the same dioxetane containing the surfactantCTAB (Lumigen, Inc., Detroit, Mich.). The spectra are normalized forpresentation.

Fluorescence spectra of the reaction product of the dioxetane, methyl3-hydroxybenzoate, in alkaline buffer solution show that thefluorescence is greatly increased in the presence of the polyvinylphosphonium salts. The largest enhancement of fluorescence quantum yieldof the ester decomposition product occurs in the presence of polymer 3TB/TO bearing tributyl- and trioctylphosphonium groups (FIG. 2). It isobserved that the fluorescence spectra are blue-shifted compared to thechemiluminescence spectra (FIG. 1).

4. Determination of Optimum Enhancer Concentration in Enzyme Assay

To each of three wells in a 96-well microplate was added 100 μL of a0.33 mM solution of dioxetane 1 in 0.2M 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol(221) buffer, pH 9.6 with 0.88 mM MgCl₂ and various concentrations ofenhancer 3 TB/TO in the range of 1.0 to 0.01 mg/mL. The plate wasincubated at 37° C. and chemiluminescence emission initiated by additionof 5.5×10⁻¹⁸ mol of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Luminescencewas measured for two hours in a Luminoskan luminometer. Maximumluminescence intensity values shown are the average of triplicateresults, corrected for the luminescence from appropriate blank solutionswithout enzyme (FIG. 3). Light intensity increases monotonically overthis range but the optimum signal/background was obtained at an enhancerconcentration of 0.5 mg/mL (FIG. 4).

5. Linearity of Detection of Alkaline Phosphatase with Lumigen®PPD+Enhancer.

To each of six wells in a 96-well microplate was added 100 μL of a 0.33mM solution of dioxetane 1 in 0.2M 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol (221)buffer, pH 9.6 with 0.88 mM MgCl₂ and 0.5 mg/mL enhancer 3 TB/TO. Theplate was incubated at 37° C. and chemiluminescence emission initiatedby addition of 5 μL of dilutions of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatasecontaining between 1.1×10⁻¹⁷ mol/μL and 1.1×10⁻²¹ mol/μL. FIG. 5 showsthat 0.005 amol of alkaline phosphatase can be detected. This representsa 2000-fold lowering of the limit of detection compared to the samesystem without enhancer (data not shown). The time to maximumchemiluminescence intensity is independent of amount of enzyme over thisrange.

6. Comparison of Chemiluminescence Intensities-Kinetic Profile.

The advantage of enhancers of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6and 7 by a comparison of the chemiluminescence intensities from 100 μLof solutions containing enhancers of the present invention and dioxetane1 in 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol (221) buffer, pH 9.6 triggered at 37°C. by addition of 5.5×10⁻¹⁸ mol of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase.

Addition of enhancer at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL substantiallyincreases the chemiluminescence intensity compared to the same solutionwithout enhancer or to solutions containing enhancers known in the art.It will be appreciated that modification to the signal/background ratioand, in some cases, the rate of rise to maximum light intensity can beeasily accomplished by varying the concentration of enhancer.

7. Enhancement of the Chemically Triggered Decomposition of Dioxetane 5.

Table 1 compares the maximum chemiluminescence intensity produced by thedecomposition of dioxetane 5 (10 μL of a 100 μg/mL solution in2-propanol) when triggered at room temperature by addition of 100 μL ofa 0.05M solution of sodium hydroxide in water containing 0.5 mg/mLenhancer. Luminescence was measured for up to one hour in a TurnerTD-20e luminometer. Enhancement factor is the ratio to the valueobtained in the absence of any enhancer. Values shown are the average oftriplicate results, corrected for the luminescence from appropriateblank solutions. The half-life (t_(1/2)) is the time required for thedecay of the luminescent signal to one-half its initial value. ##STR17##

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Enhancement of Chemiluninescence from Sodium                                  Hydroxide-Triggering of Dioxetane 5.                                                               total Light  Enhancement                                 Enhancer   t 1/2 (min)                                                                             (Rel. Light Units)                                                                         Factor                                      ______________________________________                                        TB/TO.sup.1                                                                              8.5       2.84E + 06   852.85                                      TO.sup.2   12.7      2.82E + 06   846.85                                      1.8TB/TO.sup.3                                                                           7.2       2.02E + 06   606.61                                      3TB/TO.sup.4                                                                             4.7       1.28E + 06   384.38                                      Lumi-Phos ®530.sup.5                                                                 16.7      1.23E + 06   369.37                                      TB/F.sup.6 4.7       3.06E + 05   91.89                                       TB.sup.7   5.2       1.98E + 05   59.46                                       TB/RB.sup.8                                                                              6.3       1.01E + 05   30.33                                       BDMQ.sup.9 3.3       4.27E + 04   12.83                                       TM/F.sup.10                                                                              3.2       3.84E + 04   11.53                                       Lumi-Phos ®480.sup.11                                                                13.8      1.13E + 04   3.39                                        TM.sup.12  3.7       1.01E + 04   3.03                                        TMQ.sup.13 3.5       7.45E + 03   2.24                                        None       2.2       3.33E + 03   1.00                                        ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 Polyvinylbenzyltrialkylphosphonium chloride, 50% trioctyl, 50%         tributyl.                                                                     .sup.2 Polyvinylbenzyltrioctylphosphonium chloride.                           .sup.3 Polyvinylbenzyltrialkylphosphonium chloride, 35% trioctyl, 65%         tributyl.                                                                     .sup.4 Polyvinylbenzyltrialkylphosphonium chloride, 25% trioctyl, 75%         tributyl.                                                                     .sup.5 CTAB and Ntetradecanoylaminofluorescein contained in the commercia     product of LumiPhos ®530 of Lumigen, Inc., Detroit, MI.                   .sup.6 Polyvinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride including covalently       attached fluorescein.                                                         .sup.7 Polyvinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride.                           .sup.8 Polyvinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride including covalently       attached Rose Bengal.                                                         .sup.9 Polyvinylbenzylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride. See UK Patent          Application No. 89113627.7. This material was prepared using similar          procedures as for TB.                                                         .sup.10 Polyvinylbenzyltrimethylphosphonium chloride including covalently     attached fluorescein.                                                         .sup.11 CTAB contained in the commercial product LumiPhose ®480 of        Lumigen, Inc., Detroit, MI.                                                   .sup.12 Polyvinylbenzyltrimethylphosphonium chloride.                         .sup.13 Polyvinylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride. See UK patent              Application No. 89113627.7. This material was prepared using similar          procedures as for TB.                                                    

8. Enhancement of the Enzymatically Triggered Decomposition of Dioxetane1.

Table 2 compares the maximum chemiluminescence intensity produced by thedecomposition of 100 μL of a 0.33 mM solution of dioxetane 1 in 0.2M 221buffer, pH 9.6, 0.88 mM MgCl₂ plus 0.5 mg/mL enhancer when triggered at37° C. by addition of 5 amol of alkaline phosphatase in water.Luminescence was measured for two hours in a Luminoskan™ luminometer andthe maximum light intensity recorded. Values shown are the average oftriplicate results. Background intensity is the light level in theabsence of enzyme. The value of I_(1/2) represents the time required toreach one-half of the maximum light intensity. The value of I_(BG)represents the light intensity in the absence of enzyme. The term(S-B)/B is the ratio of the corrected maximum light intensity to thebackground light intensity. The polymers of the present invention canalso be used to enhance the chemiluminescence of phosphate substituteddioxetanes related to dioxetane wherein the adamantyl group issubstituted with hetero atom containing groups such as 5-chloro.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Enhancement of Chemiluminescence from Alkaline                                Phosphatase-Triggering of Dioxetane 1.                                                   Time to                                                            Enhancer   I.sub.1/2 (min)                                                                         I.sub.max (S)                                                                          I.sub.BG (B)                                                                         (S-B)/B                                  ______________________________________                                        1.8TB/TO   24        1600     0.69   2320                                     3TB/TO     12        613      0.30   2060                                     TB/TO      28        155      0.24   660                                      Lumi-Phos 530                                                                            16        190      2.47    75                                      TB/F        7         32      0.16   203                                      TB          7         23      0.13   170                                      BDMQ        5        6.2      0.12    53                                      None        3        1.1      0.12    8                                       ______________________________________                                    

9. Application of Enhancers to the Chemiluminescent Detection of Proteinby Western blotting

The advantage of compositions of the present invention for thechemiluminescent detection of proteins by the technique of Westernblotting is demonstrated in the following example. Similar enhancementsare observed for detection of DNA on membranes such as nylon.

Western Blot--Comparison to Commercial Chemiluminescent AlkalinePhosphatase Detection Reagents. Reagents

Rabbit ant-goat IgG-alkaline phosphatase conjugate was obtained fromCappel Products (Durham, N.C.). Human transferrin and fractionated goatant-human transferrin serum were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co (St.Louis, Mo.). The IgG sample was centrifuged at 10,000 g for two minutesand the supernatant was used in the immunological reaction. Immobilon-Ptransfer membrane was obtained from Millipore Corp. (Bedford, Mass.)Kodak X-OMAT-AR and OMC (Rochester, N.Y.) films were used in the assayprocedure.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) andimmunoblot analysis.

SDS-PAGE was performed utilizing the buffer system described by Laemmli(U.K. Laemmli, Nature (London), 227,680 (1970)). The stacking gel was4.38% acrylamide: 0.12% bisacrylamide. The separating gel was 6.81%acrylamide: 0.19% bisacrylamide. Following electrophoresis, the gel wasequilibrated for 7-8 minutes with the transfer buffer which contained 20mM Tris, 153 mM glycine and 20% (v/v) methanol. The gel, sandwichedbetween a sheet of transfer membrane and a sheet of chromatography paper3 MM (Whatman), was placed in the transfer unit (Bio-Rad Laboratories,Richmond, Calif.). The proteins in the gel were electroeluted for 50-60minutes at 4° C. at a 100 V constant voltage. The membrane was thenplaced in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffered saline at pH 7.4 (TBS) at 4° C.overnight. After this period the membrane was washed with TBS for 15minutes.

The membrane was treated with 0.05% Tween-20 in 50 mM Tris-HCl bufferedsaline at pH 7.4 (T-TBS) containing 1% non-fat powdered milk (NFM) forone hour at room temperature. This blocked membrane was incubated for 75minutes at room temperature with primary antibody (1:500 dilution ofgoat anti-human transferrin IgG fraction) using T-TBS containing 1% NFM.The membrane was then rinsed and washed three times for ten minutes eachwith T-TBS at room temperature. The washed membrane was incubated forone hour at room temperature with secondary antibody (1:5000 dilution ofrabbit anti-goat IgG-alkaline phosphatase conjugate) using T-TBScontaining 1% NFM. The membrane was rinsed and washed four times for tenminutes each with T-TBS followed by a ten minute wash with TBS. Thewashed membrane was soaked in one of four detection reagents (A-D) forfive minutes, drained and placed between sheets of transparency film.The X-ray film was exposed to the membrane for ten to 30 seconds anddeveloped.

Chemiluminescent detection of Western blotted human transferrinutilizing Lumi-Phos® 530 (A) another reagent containing BDMQ (B) and twoother reagents using enhancers of this invention (C,D) was performed ontwo different x-ray films. The composition of the detection reagentsolutions was as follows:

    ______________________________________                                        A             B         C          D                                          ______________________________________                                        [Dioxetane                                                                            0.33 mM   0.66 mM   0.66 mM  0.66 mM                                  1]                                                                            Buffer  221, 0.75 M                                                                             221, 0.2 M                                                                              221, 0.2 M                                                                             221, 0.2 M                               pH      9.6       10.1      10.1     10.1                                     [Mg.sup.2+ ]                                                                          0.88 mM   0         0.88 mM  0.88 mM                                  [NaN.sub.3 ]                                                                          0         0.1%      0        0                                        Enhancer                                                                              CTAB,     BDMQ      TB/F, 0.1%                                                                             TB, 0.1%                                         1.1 mM    0.1%                                                                F1-S,                                                                         37 μM                                                              ______________________________________                                         F1-S = Tetradecanoylaminofluorescein                                          BDMQ = Poly(vinylbenzyl)benzyldimethylammonium chloride                  

To determine the sensitivity of these detection systems for Westernblotting, a model system of transferrin was utilized to providepolypeptide bands in known quantities. The transferrin standardsutilized were detectable down to 5 pg/slot after a 20 second exposure toOMC X-ray film utilizing reagent C (FIG. 8C) and reagent D (FIG. 8D).However, for a 20 second exposure, only faint bands representing onenanogram and five nanograms of transferrin/slot were observed whenreagent A and reagent B were used for detection. Exposure times inexcess of seven minutes were required to detect 5 pg/slot of transferrinwith reagents A or B. The signal to background ratios for detection of 5pg/slot transferrin were similar among the four systems, though theexposure times were significantly different. Membranes treated withreagents C and D using enhancers of the present invention achievedequivalent signal levels on exposure to X-ray film 15 times faster thanmembranes treated with reagents A and B.

The speed advantage of reagents C and D was even more pronounced whenthe commonly used X-OMATAR X-ray film was utilized for detection. Forequivalent signal levels, reagents A and B required significantly longerexposure times.

10. Enhancement in Non-aqueous and Mixed Solvent Solutions

Chemiluminescence from the base-triggered decomposition of dioxetane 5is also enhanced by polymeric phosphonium salts of the present inventionin solutions wherein water is not the only solvent. Triggering of 100 μLof a 10 μg/mL solution of dioxetane 5 in water/methanol or methanol in aTurner luminometer with 100 μL of 0.05M KOH in methanol producedchemiluminescence which was enhanced in the presence of 0.25 mg/mL ofpolymer 3 TB/TO.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Enhancement of Chemiluminescence from Base-                                   Triggering of Dioxetane 5 in Alcohol and Alcohol/Water                        Solvent by Polymer 3TB/TO.                                                           50% Water/50% Methanol                                                                       100% Methanol                                                  Without With       Without  With                                              Enhancer                                                                              Enhancer   Enhancer Enhancer                                   ______________________________________                                        I.sub.max                                                                              230       3000       57     80                                                236       2700       58     70                                                250       2530       60     79                                       Avg.     239       2743       58     76                                       Enhancement        11.6              1.3                                      ______________________________________                                    

11. Enhancement of the Enzymatically Triggerred Decomposition of aGalactoside-Protected Dioxetane.

Table 4 compares the total chemiluminescence intensity produced by theenzymatic decomposition and subsequent base-triggering of thegalactoside-protected dioxetane Lumigen® GPD. The sample was prepared byincubating 100 μL of a 100 μg/mL solution of the galactoside-protecteddioxetane Lumigen® GPD in 0.1M phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, 0.88 mM MgCl₂with 5 μl of a 5 μg/ml solution of β-galactosidase-streptavidin inwater. The chemiluminescence was triggered at 37° C. by addition of 100μL of 0.05M NaOH containing 0.5 mg/mL enhancer. Luminescence wasmeasured for 30 minutes in a Turner luminometer and the total lightintensity recorded. Background intensity is the total light intensity ofan identical sample incubated without enzyme. The value of I_(BG)represents the light intensity in the absence of enzyme. The term(S-B)/B is the ratio of the corrected maximum light intensity to thebackground light intensity.

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Enhancement of Chemiluminescence from                                         Galactosidase-Triggering of Lumigen ®GPD.                                 Enhancer I.sub.max (S) I.sub.BG (B)                                                                            (S-B)/B                                      ______________________________________                                        3TB/TO   1.05e + 07    4.43e + 04                                                                              235                                          None     1.49e + 05    1.06e + 03                                                                              140                                          ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A process for producing a water-solublepoly(vinylLinktriAylphosphonium group)-containing polymer whichcomprises:(a) reacting in a reaction mixture a polyvinyl polymer with afirst triAylphosphine having a first set of three A substituents in anorganic solvent for the polyvinyl polymer wherein A is selected from thegroup consisting of alkyl containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and alkyl andaralkyl groups containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms to produce a firstpoly(vinylLinktriAylphosphonium group)-containing polymer; and (b)reacting said first poly(vinylLinktriAylphosphonium group)-containingpolymer with a second triAylphosphine having a second set of three Asubstituents different from the first set of three A substituents toproduce a second poly(vinylLinktriAylphosphonium group)-containingpolymer; and (c) separating said second polymer from the reactionmixture.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent isdimethylformamide.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction isconducted at a temperature between about 0° C. and 100° C.
 4. Theprocess of claim 1 wherein a non-reactive gaseous atmosphere is used. 5.The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is separated as a precipitatefrom the reaction mixture.
 6. The process of claim 5 wherein thereaction is conducted over a period of between about 1 and 20 days. 7.The process of claim 1 wherein the poly(vinylLinktriAylphosphoniumgroup)-containing polymer is substituted with fluorescent groups.
 8. Theprocess of claim 1 wherein Link is a benzyl group.
 9. The process ofclaim 1 wherein the first triAylphosphine contains from 15 to 30 carbonatoms and the second triAylphosphine contains from 3 to 12 carbon atoms.10. The process of claim 9 wherein the first triAylphosphine istrioctylphosphine and the second triAylphosphine is selected from thegroup consisting of trimethylphosphine, triethylphosphine,tripropylphosphine and tributylphosphine.
 11. The process of claim 7wherein the fluorescent groups are fluoresceinyl groups.